JP2004210171A - Occupant restraining device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an accident that a cell of an air bag is caught in a pillar and smooth deployment is disturbed. <P>SOLUTION: This occupant restraining device C inflates the air bag 21 by gas generated by an inflater 35 in collision of a vehicle and is deployed in a curtain shape along the side inner surface of the cabin. The occupant restraining device C has a plurality of cells 21c and 21d inflating along the inner surface of a B pillar 15 and a C pillar 16. When the axes lines S1-S4 of the cells 21c and 21d are tilted with respect to the axis P1 of the corresponding B pillar 15 and the axis P2 of the C pillar 16, the lower ends of the cells 21c and 21d are hardly caught in the B pillar 15 or the C pillar 16 and hence the smooth deployment of the air bag 21 is allowed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention arranges an airbag in a folded state along the side of a roof, and inflates the airbag with gas generated by an inflator at the time of a vehicle collision to deploy the airbag in a curtain shape along the inner surface of the side of the vehicle compartment. The present invention relates to an occupant restraint system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Such an occupant restraint device is known, for example, from the following patent document. This occupant restraint device includes a plurality of cells that branch downward from a gas distribution passage extending along the upper edge of the airbag, and the inflator distributes generated gas from the gas distribution passage to the upper end of each cell. The cells are expanded in a cylindrical shape to restrain the occupant.
[0003]
[Patent Document]
Japanese Patent No. 3334570
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the center pillar arranged on the inner surface of the side of the vehicle compartment protrudes toward the cabin from the door glass located before and after the center pillar, and the side of the center pillar facing the vehicle compartment has a seat belt through. Because the anchor is provided, if one cell of the airbag that expands downward from the side edge of the roof extends so as to overlap the center pillar, it will not easily come off when the lower end of the cell is caught on the center pillar. However, smooth deployment of the airbag could be hindered.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to prevent a cell of an airbag from being caught on a pillar and hindering smooth deployment.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag having a plurality of cells branching downward from a gas distribution passage extending along an upper edge of a base fabric. An occupant that is arranged in a folded state and supplies gas generated by an inflator at the time of a vehicle collision to a cell through a gas distribution passage, thereby inflating an airbag and deploying it in a curtain shape along a side inner surface of a passenger compartment. In the restraint device, an occupant restraint device is proposed in which a direction in which a cell expanding along an inner surface of at least one of the pillars extends is inclined with respect to a direction in which the pillar extends.
[0007]
According to the above configuration, of the plurality of cells of the airbag that expands in a curtain shape along the side inner surface of the vehicle compartment, the direction in which the cells that expand along the inner surface of the pillar extends is greater than the direction in which the pillar extends. Because of the inclination, the lower end of the cell is less likely to be caught by the pillar, and the airbag can be smoothly deployed.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, an occupant restraint system is proposed in which the direction in which the cells extend is inclined with respect to a vertical direction.
[0009]
According to the above configuration, the direction in which the cells extend is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Therefore, when the vehicle laterally collides with an obstacle such as a standing tree or a pole extending in the vertical direction, the shock absorption between two adjacent cells is absorbed. It is possible to prevent the obstacle and the occupant's head from being fitted on both sides of the portion where the effect is small, and secure effective shock absorbing performance.
[0010]
The B pillar 15 and the C pillar 16 in the embodiment correspond to the pillar of the present invention.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0012]
FIGS. 1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the interior of a vehicle when the airbag is not deployed, and FIG. 2 is a vehicle interior when the airbag is deployed. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the occupant restraint device, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing of an example.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 1, the RV vehicle including the front row seat 11, the center row seat 12, and the rear row seat 13 includes an A pillar 14, a B pillar 15, a C pillar 16 and a D pillar 17, and the A pillar 14, A front door 18 is arranged between the B pillars 15, a rear door 19 is arranged between the B pillar 15 and the C pillar 16, and a tailgate 20 is arranged behind the D pillar 17. The folded airbag 21 of the occupant restraint device C is stored in the vehicle longitudinal direction along the side of the roof 22 sandwiched between the A pillar 14 and the D pillar 17. The occupant restraint devices C having substantially the same structure are provided on both the left and right sides of the vehicle body, respectively. Hereinafter, representative devices provided on the right side of the vehicle body will be described.
[0014]
As is clear from FIGS. 2 to 4, the airbag 21 is formed by sewing 32 of two base fabrics 31, and has a cylindrical front side and a rear side extending in the front-rear direction along the upper edge thereof. , A plurality of cells 21c... Which downwardly diverge from the front gas distribution passage 21a to protect the occupant's head of the front row seat 11, and the rear gas distribution passage 21b. And a plurality of cells 21d... For protecting the occupant's head of the central row seat 12 from below, and branching downward from the rear gas distribution passage 21b to protect the occupant's head of the rear row seat 13. And a plurality of cells 21e.
[0015]
A non-inflated portion 21f to which gas is not supplied is formed in front of the occupant cells 21c of the front row seat 11, and between the occupant cells 21c of the front row seat 11 and the occupant cells 21d of the center row seat 12. A non-inflated portion 21g to which no gas is supplied is formed, and a non-inflated portion 21h to which gas is not supplied is formed between the occupant cells 21d of the central row seat 12 and the occupant cells 21e of the rear row seat 13. Is done. A plurality of mounting portions 21i formed along the upper edge of the airbag 21 are fixed to the roof 22, the A pillar 14, and the D pillar 17.
[0016]
The folded airbag 21 is wrapped by cloth covers 33 and 34 divided into two parts. Each of the covers 33, 34 is sewn along the lower edge to form a cylindrical shape, and the perforated break portions 33a, 34a formed along the longitudinal direction of the cover 33, 34 are broken to break the airbag. 21 allow for expansion. A plurality of attachment portions 21i formed along the upper edge of the airbag 21 project upward through openings 33b, 34b formed on the upper surfaces of the covers 33, 34.
[0017]
An inflator 35 is arranged on a side of the roof 22 facing the upper end of the C pillar 16. A gas supply pipe 36 extending forward from the end of the inflator 35 is bent downward and then branches into two branches, and a gas outlet 36a at the front end thereof is connected to a front gas supply port 21j at the rear end of the gas distribution passage 21a at the front side. The gas outlet 36b at the rear end is inserted into the rear gas supply port 21k at the front end of the rear gas distribution passage 21b, and is fixed by the fixing band 38. At this time, the base cloth 31 is cut into a trapezoid below the front and rear gas supply ports 21j and 21k so as not to interfere with the fixed bands 37 and 38, and an opening 21m is formed. A fixing member 39 is fitted to a vertically extending portion of the gas supply pipe 36, and both ends of the fixing member 39 are fixed by two bolts 40, 40.
[0018]
As best shown in FIG. 3, the development shape of the four cells 21c... That restrain the occupant of the front row seat 11 is basically inclined from the upper rear to the lower front, and the two rear Part of the cells 21c, 21c overlaps with the B pillar 15 on the side surface on the passenger compartment side. The axes S1, S2 of the two cells 21c, 21c are inclined with respect to the axis P1 of the B pillar 15. .. Of the rear row of the three cells 21d for restraining the occupant of the center row seat 12 are basically inclined from upper rear to lower front. Part of the individual cells 21d, 21d overlaps the C pillar 16 on the side surface on the passenger compartment side. The axes S3 and S4 of the two cells 21d and 21d are inclined with respect to the axis P2 of the C pillar 16.
[0019]
Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.
[0020]
When a side collision or rollover of the vehicle is detected by the acceleration sensor, the inflator 35 operates according to a command from the electronic control unit, and the gas stored in the inflator 35 is supplied to the front and rear of the airbag 21 via the gas supply pipe 36. , 21d..., 21e. As a result, the airbag 21 housed along the side of the roof 22 in the folded state is inflated, and the pressure causes the roof garnish to be pushed down and the airbag 21 is deployed downward into the vehicle cabin through an opening formed. The cells 21c on the front side of the deployed airbag 21 protect the occupant's head of the front row seat 11, the center cells 21d ... protect the occupant's head on the center row seat 12, and the rear cells 21e ... The head of the occupant in the rear row seat 13 is protected.
[0021]
At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the axes S1 and S2 of the two cells 21c and 21c developed along the B pillar 15 are inclined with respect to the axis P1 of the B pillar 15, The cells 21c, 21c are less likely to be caught on the B pillar 15, and the airbag 21 can be smoothly deployed. Similarly, since the axes S3 and S4 of the two cells 21d and 21d that extend along the C pillar 16 are inclined with respect to the axis P2 of the C pillar 16, the two cells 21d and 21d are in the C direction. It is difficult for the airbag 21 to be caught by the pillar 16 and the airbag 21 can be smoothly deployed.
[0022]
This is because the cells 21c, 21c, 21d, and 21d expand in the direction inclined with respect to the B pillar 15 or the C pillar 16, so that even if the lower ends of the cells 21c, 21c, 21d, and 21d are caught, they can easily come off. It is.
[0023]
Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when the vehicle side-collides with an obstacle 42 such as a standing tree or a pole extending in a substantially vertical direction, the axes S1 and S2 of the cells 21c and 21c near the head H of the occupant are changed. The obstacle 42 and the occupant's head H are fitted on both sides of a portion having a small shock absorbing effect between the two adjacent cells 21c (1) and 21c (2) because they are inclined with respect to the vertical direction. It is possible to prevent jamming and prevent a situation in which the two cells 21c (1) and 21c (2) cannot effectively absorb the impact received from the obstacle 42. This is because the two cells 21c (1) and 21c (2), whose axes S1 and S2 are inclined with respect to the direction in which the obstacle 42 extends, at least partially protect the occupant's head H in the vertical direction. It is because it is in the position to gain.
[0024]
In the example shown in FIG. 5, the upper part (see the solid line) of the two cells 21c (1) and 21c (2) cannot effectively protect the occupant's head H, but the lower part of the rear cell 21c (2). (See broken line) can effectively protect the occupant's head H.
[0025]
On the other hand, when the cells 21c extend straight in the vertical direction as in the comparative example shown in FIG. 6, for example, the obstacle 42 is positioned only a distance α between the two cells 21c (1) and 21c (2). As a result, the thickness of the cells 21c (1) and 21c (2) is substantially reduced, and the shock absorbing effect is weakened.
[0026]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various design changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the gist thereof.
[0027]
For example, the cell pattern of the airbag 21 is not limited to the one described in the first embodiment, but may be the one in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7 or the third embodiment shown in FIG. That is, the direction in which the cells 21c... (21d...) Extend may be inclined with respect to the direction in which the B pillar 15 (C pillar 16) extends.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, of the plurality of cells of the airbag that expand in a curtain shape along the side inner surface of the vehicle compartment, the cells that expand along the inner surface of the pillar extend. Since the direction is inclined with respect to the direction in which the pillar extends, the lower end of the cell is less likely to be caught by the pillar, and the airbag can be smoothly deployed.
[0029]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the direction in which the cells extend is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Therefore, when the vehicle side-collides with an obstacle such as a standing tree or a pole extending in the vertical direction, the vehicle is adjacent to the obstacle. It is possible to prevent the obstacle and the occupant's head from being fitted on both sides of the portion having a small shock absorbing effect between the two cells, thereby ensuring effective shock absorbing performance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the interior of the vehicle when the airbag is not deployed. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the interior of the vehicle when the airbag is deployed. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the occupant restraint device. FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a comparative example corresponding to FIG. 5. FIG. FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to the main part of FIG. 3; FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to the main part of FIG. 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
15 B pillar (pillar)
16 C pillar (pillar)
21 airbag 21a gas distribution passage 21b gas distribution passage 21c cell 21d cell 22 roof 31 base cloth 35 inflator

Claims (2)

An airbag (21) having a plurality of cells (21c, 21d) branching downward from gas distribution passages (21a, 21b) extending along the upper edge of the base fabric (31) is provided on a side portion of a roof (22). The airbag (21) is inflated by supplying the gas generated by the inflator (35) upon collision of the vehicle to the cells (21c, 21d) via the gas distribution passages (21a, 21b). In an occupant restraint device deployed in a curtain shape along the inner surface of the side of the vehicle compartment,
An occupant characterized in that the direction in which the cells (21c, 21d) expanding along the inner surface of at least one of the pillars (15, 16) extends is inclined with respect to the direction in which the pillars (15, 16) extend. Restraint device. The occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the extending direction of the cells (21c, 21d) is inclined with respect to a vertical direction.

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